Emirates Prepares to Land in Berlin After Three Decades of Regulatory Gridlock
After more than 30 years of political and commercial maneuvering, Emirates is on the verge of achieving one of its historic objectives in Europe: flying to Berlin, the capital of the continent’s largest economy. Far from a simple network adjustment, this move reopens the structural debate regarding competition, traffic rights, and the role of major Gulf hubs versus European airlines.
A Long-Delayed Route Begins to Take Shape
According to documents accessed by Bloomberg News, Emirates plans to launch flights to Berlin in December using a Boeing 777. The launch was initially scheduled for May but was postponed due to aircraft delivery delays—an issue currently impacting much of the global industry.
For Emirates, this milestone is significant: Berlin represented a major gap in its German network, which has been limited since the mid-1990s by a bilateral agreement between Germany and the United Arab Emirates. The airline currently operates in four German destinations; adding Berlin would further increase competitive pressure on Deutsche Lufthansa AG, particularly in the long-haul sector.
Berlin: A Major Market with Limited Connectivity
Despite being Germany’s most populous city, Berlin’s airport remains underserved in terms of intercontinental flights. For Emirates, the German capital represents a clear opportunity to:
- Capture demand from the eastern part of the country.
- Attract passengers from Poland and the Czech Republic.
- Feed its Dubai hub with traffic that currently must transit through other European airports.
The airline confirmed it has already requested slots at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, clarifying that this is a routine step to remain prepared should the necessary operating rights be granted. While the company maintains there is “clear demand” for the route, a spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry of Transport stated that no official decision has been made regarding traffic rights.
→ Emirates to Begin Flights to Helsinki (Finland) from October
Political and Economic Backdrop
Emirates’ own corporate materials suggest the discussion extends beyond aviation. In its January newsletter, the airline claimed that securing rights for Berlin would be a “suitable element” for the German government’s efforts to boost the economy in the East, generating jobs and expanding consumer choice without direct fiscal costs.
This argument is not new. Emirates President Tim Clark has been one of the primary architects of the lobbying efforts in Germany. A symbolic yet telling gesture occurred at the 2010 Berlin Air Show, when Emirates ordered new Airbus A380s as a sign of goodwill toward the German government.
Lufthansa Counterattacks: Competition, Hubs, and Regulations
Lufthansa’s reaction was swift. When consulted by Bloomberg, the German airline reiterated that Emirates and other Gulf carriers operate under considerably more favorable conditions, which—in its view—distorts competition.
The central strategic argument is that the massive hubs in Dubai and Doha allow these airlines to channel intercontinental traffic, thereby reducing demand for direct routes from Europe to Asia and other key markets. Furthermore, Lufthansa emphasizes that:
- Eurowings and Condor already operate flights between Berlin and Dubai.
- An additional Emirates route would not improve Berlin’s connectivity with the Americas or Asia.
- The real effect would be the weakening of European hubs by diverting traffic to the Middle East.
In the words of Sandra Courant, a spokesperson for Lufthansa, Europe should “prioritize its own competitiveness,” especially in the face of higher operating costs and stricter environmental standards that weigh on local airlines.
A Regional Board with Complex Precedents
The case of Berlin is not isolated. Other Gulf players have sought formulas to bypass German restrictions:
- Etihad Airways acquired a stake in Air Berlin in 2011 and launched flights to the capital via its Swiss subsidiary.
- Qatar Airways gained a clear advantage following the 2021 aviation agreement between Qatar and the European Union, which allowed it to expand its network to five German destinations.
That agreement was preceded by strong criticism from European airlines and national governments, who denounced state aid to Gulf operators. While the EU attempted to negotiate a similar pact with the UAE, the country resisted. More recently, Lufthansa even called on the EU to suspend the bilateral agreement with Qatar, citing corruption allegations against the state that controls Qatar Airways.
Although operational planning is underway, the key remains political. Without a resolution on traffic rights, the Berlin–Dubai route remains in a conditional state.
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